Water-wheel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. MIDDLETON.

WATER WHEEL.

*lll'! I I III! Patented June 4, 1889 8 L 8 8 E N T l W Arm/ms.

(No Model.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. MIDDLETON.

WATER WHEEL; No. 404,642. Patented June 4', 1889.

WITNESSES: 4 llVVE/VTOR:

' VUMM Arromvrrs.

N. Pniks. Phulo-Lilhogmphur. Waihiuglnn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE MIDDLETON, OF OLARKSVILLE, MISSOURI.

WATER-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,642, dated June 4,1889.

Application filed February 6, 1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEE MIDDLETON, of Clarksville, in the county of Pikeand State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved VVaterheel, ofwhich the following is a full, clear and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved water-wheelwhich is simple and durable in construction, Very effective inoperation, and can be easily raised out of the water whenever desired.

The invention consists in certain parts and details and combinations ofthe. same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed outin the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similarlettersof reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, with parts broken out.Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 00 0c of Fig. 1,and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the gate-support.

In the mill-race A is placed transversely a rectangular frame B,provided with the vertical posts 0 0, each having a slot 0, into whichfits a pin or pins D, secured on vertical posts D of a rectangular frameD. On the top beam D of the frame D are secured the lower ends of ropesor chains E, extending upward through the top beam C of the frame B. Theframe D is mounted to slide vertically in the transverse frame B, theslotted side posts 0 forming guideways for the said frame D. The lattercan be raised or lowered by the chains or ropes E.

In the middle of the frame I) is held to turn a shaft F, resting at itslower end on the bottom beam D of the frame D. The shaft F extendsupward through the top beam C of the fixed frame 13, and carries agear-wheel H, or other suitable means, for transmitting the rotarymotion of the shaft F. The latter supports, between the top and bottombeams D and D' of the frame D, the water-wheel G, preferably of theconstruction shown in the drawings. The water-wheel G is provided with across I, extending horizontally and secured on the shaft F abouthalf-way between Serial No. 298, 876. (No model.)

the beams D and D. On each of the arms of the cross I is secured an armJ, provided with upwardly-extending posts K and downwardly-extendingposts K. On each of the posts K and K are secured the lugs K and Krespectively, of which the lugs K of each arm J support a gate L, and asimilar gate L is pivoted on the lugs K of each of the arms .I. Thegates L L, when in an open position, as shown to the left in Fig. 1,rest with their backs against the posts K and K, but when the gates areclosed, as illustrated to the right in Fig. 1, the gates swing towardeach other until they meet and then stand at right angles to the posts Kand K.

The operation is as follows: hen the frame D is in itslowermost'position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the flow of the water inthe mill-race exerts a pressure against the open gates L and L of thearm J on the lefthand side of the shaft F when the water flows in thedirection of the arrow at. The shaft F is thus turned and. imparts arotary motion by its gear-wheel H to the machinery to be driven. Thenthe gates L and L pass beyond the middle in the rear of the shaft F, andthe water, flowing in the direction of the arrow a, presses against thesaid gates L and L and closes the same, as illustrated in Figs. I and 2.The gates remain closed until the turning of the shaft F brings them tothe front and slightly past the center to the left;

the water will again open the gates and the above-described operationwill be repeated. Vhen the operator desires to stop the rotary motion ofthe shaft F, he raises the frame D by pulling on the ropes E, and thusthe frame D with the water-wheel G slides upward, so that the gates Land L are out of contact with the water in the mill-race. The wheel Gnow ceases to rotate. Other suitable means may be employed to raise orlower the frame D so as to throw the water-wheel G in or out of contactwith the water in the mill-race.

The several arms J are connected with each other by suitable braces, soas to hold the arms in the proper positions.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

A Water-wheel consisting in the cruciform frame I, the arms J, boltedthereto and proviclecl with Vertical bars K K projecting from theirupper and lower sides, upper and lower 5 pairs of horizontal lugs K Kprojecting at right angles to the arms J, and the upper and lower gatesL L, hinged at their adjacent edges to said lugs to swing verticallytoward and from each other, the said arms K K forming stops for thegates When they are in I0 their vertical positions one above the other,substantially as set forth.

LEE MIDDLETON. Witnesses:

\VILLIAM R. MCDANNOLD, JOHN D. FERN, Jr.

